In a recent issue of Mother Jones, I read about a proposal — although I’m not sure how formal or serious it is — to save gasoline by having every driver in the country keep the gas tank half empty or less.
In effect, every car is a mini storage tank, with the nation’s entire auto and fleet amounting to one huge oil reserve.
The notion enchanted me. Although most of the time the Boy Scout in me wants to keep my tank half full or more, the eco in me wants to let it run down so my car weighs less and will get better mileage, however fractionally.
But just think:
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the nation has at least 200 million passenger vehicles. (I’ve seen higher estimates.)
If every one of those routinely drove around with five gallons less than usual, that would amount to one billion gallons NOT in storage in their tanks.
At 42 gallons per barrel, that equals 23.8 million barrels.
This just happens to slightly exceed the total U.S. daily petroleum consumption of 20.7 million barrels of oil.
Of course, if everyone continues to drive the same amount, it’s not exactly a permanent fix. But it makes you think, doesn’t it?
GreenSpace - her column about how to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life - appears every other Monday in Health & Science.
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